Board Games for the Blind!

A husband-and-wife team from 64 Oz. Games have set out on a mission to make board games accessible to the blind. By fitting cards to transparent sleeves with Braille printed on them, or attaching longer descriptions to QR codes that can be read with a smartphone, any blind person can join in the fun now. Support this cool project on Kickstarter!

Read article here.

 

 

Image source: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/64ouncegames/board-games-now-blind-accessible

Apple Earns Patent for Accessibility Feature Invented for Poor Vision Users

Apple has been granted a patent today for the invention of its touch screen display which provides accessibility to the blind and visually impaired. Functions include the ability to recognize non-location based gestures and simple magnification of certain parts of the screen for comfortable reading. Who would have known that behind the gestures we use to activate zoom functions daily lie a set of velocity vectors and pre-determined ratios. Amazing!

Read article here.

 

Image source: www.apple.com, www.tuaw.com, www.padgadget.com

 

A Whole New World for the Blind - How Far Are We?

We envision a whole new world that technology can offer to the blind - but what are the challenges and how far are we from this future?



Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucPZxPEiKB8

Losing Sight Suddenly - What’s the #1 Accessibility Feature that One Needs?

Learning to live without sight suddenly - how does one cope? What do you think is the #1 support that an individual needs in terms of accessibility?

Read article here.

 

 

Source:http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/11071166.Chorley_man_who_suddenly_went_blind_shares_experiences_at_House_of_Lords/?ref=var_0

Join us at CSUN 2014!

Will you be at the CSUN Conference on 19 - 22 March?

Do drop by Booth 323 (Grand Hall) which we are sharing with Maxi-Aids, and have a go at using our RAY smartphone.

Our CEO and founder, Boaz Zilberman, will also be speaking at the conference about mobility services for the blind and visually impaired. Come join us at Hillcrest AB, 3^rd Floor, Seaport Tower this Thursday at 3.10pm.

We’d love to meet and say hi!

Image source:http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/2014/sessions/

Apple Focuses on Accessibility for Low-Vision Users in iOS 7.1

Apple has launched a new iOS version 7.1 that aims to address the problems of its parent - stylistic transparency and poor contrast between buttons and the background have posed a major challenge for users who are visually impaired. Despite its efforts, there’s still room for improvement.

What else do you think needs to be fixed? Let us know!

Read article here.

 

 

Image soure:http://www.macworld.com/article/2107640/a-closer-look-at-ios-7-1s-accessibility-changes.html

Samsung Develops New Smartphone Accessibility Features for the Visually Impaired

Samsung has made its smartphone more accessible to people with low vision - an ultrasonic cover, optical scan application and voice label. What’s most interesting is the ultrasonic cover that is able to sense the presence of objects or people and guides its user away from them.

Read article here.

 

Image source: http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/14/5507720/samsung-accessibility-accessories-galaxy-core-advance

Smartphone Accessibility Training for People with Disabilities

AT&T and Wireless RERC will be introducing a range of seminars to educate consumers with disabilities on the existing accessibility features in their Android, iOS and Windows 8 smartphones that they can utilize. This is definitely a long-awaited helping hand, but better late than never!

Read article here.

See you at CSUN Conference 2014!

The CSUN conference is happening soon!

Project-RAY's CEO and founder, Boaz Zilberman, will be speaking about mobility services for the blind and visually impaired.

Date: 20 March (Thursday)

Time: 3.10pm

Venue: Hillcrest AB, 3rd Floor, Seaport Tower

Come visit us at Booth 323 (Grand Hall) where we will showcase our RAY smartphone on that day.

We look forward to meeting you!

 

Image source:

http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/2014/sessions/index.php/public/website_pages/view/1



New Technology for Blind and Visually Impaired to Navigate Boston T Stations

Good news for the blind and visually impaired! A new technology designed by the University of Massachusetts Amherst could lead the way in sight-free navigation of complex public transport networks. PERCEPT is a smartphone application that directs people sequentially to various tagged landmarks and provides further instructions from there until they arrive at their destination.

Could this be the first step to much-improved navigation and accessibility of public spaces for the blind community?

Watch the video to see how PERCEPT enables the blind to find their way around.



Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmLtkdYrj_E&feature=youtu.be

One week to the CSUN Conference 2014!

Will you be attending the CSUN Conference in San Diego next week?

Come listen to what Project-RAY's CEO and founder, Boaz Zilberman, has to say about mobility services for the blind and visually impaired.

Date: 20 March (Thursday)
Time: 3.10pm
Venue: Hillcrest AB, 3rd Floor, Seaport Tower

To experience our RAY smartphone first-hand, come over to Booth 323 (Grand Hall) or drop us a message to arrange a convenient time. See you there!

Image source: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/2014/sessions/

Lechal footwear - Better Navigation for the Blind and Visually Impaired

How the Lechal footwear guides the blind and visually impaired to their destination.

New Video on Project-RAY's Smartphone Acccessibility Features

We’ve uploaded a new video that gives an overview of Project-RAY’S smartphone accessibility features for the blind and visually impaired.
 
Subscribe to Project-RAY’s Youtube channel for more detailed demos.

Our Daily Commute with Technology

Technology has definitely changed the way we live and how we spend our free time.

What do you think is the greatest impact that smartphones have on the blind community? Let us know!

Read article here

Making Science Accessible to the Blind

As we strive to enrich the daily lives of the blind – both young and old, Cary Supalo who is blind himself, has created devices that make learning science and engineering more accessible to students like him.
 

Read on to learn about the motivation behind the founder of Independence Science and Purdue alumnus, who is due to receive AFB’s Access Award this year. Read article here

Do you have a great example of the blind helping the blind? Let us know in the comments below!

Assistive Technology Blog - Project Ray: The World's First Smart Phone For Blind And Visually Impaired Users

The smartphone revolution has brought a lot of comfort and convenience to practically everyone's fingertips. Looking for information, reading books, communicating with loved ones in not one but many ways, and even performing "real work" using a phone has become a way of life for us. Thanks to all the phone manufacturers and their dedication towards accessibility, blind and visually impaired users have had great success with smartphones. Read More Here on Venkat Rao's Assistive Technology Blog